New Directions® For Strings, Teacher's Manual Book 2: Conductor/Teacher Method Book

Purposeful and transparent. Each exercise builds intentionally on the previous one, so students understand exactly why they're playing what they're playing. The music itself motivates; this isn't drill-heavy pedagogy disguised as repertoire.

String orchestra directors building a comprehensive program from the ground up, as well as teachers managing mixed-instrument classes where equal voice distribution matters. This manual works best for educators committed to consistent assessment and methodical left-hand development.

• Build left-hand strength gradually by emphasizing tetrachord patterns before introducing position shifts. Students who understand the physical foundation rarely develop tension issues later.
• Use the assessment checkpoints embedded throughout the method to identify individual gaps without derailing rehearsal pacing. Flag students who need extra bow control work and address it during sectionals.
• Balance the method book material with your own supplementary repertoire to reinforce concepts. The structured approach works best when students see the same skills applied in real musical contexts.
• Record short demonstrations of proper bow control for each exercise level. Visual reference helps students self-correct between rehearsals.

Make this your core curriculum for the first two years of string study. Return to specific sections during sectional rehearsals when particular technical challenges arise, treating the book as a reference library rather than a linear workbook. Pair it with your concert repertoire to reinforce tetrachord familiarity in a musical setting.

• Left-hand development using tetrachord-based progressions
• Bow control and articulation across all four instruments
• Reading across all four string clefs and ranges simultaneously
• Equal part independence in string writing
• Self-assessment through embedded evaluation checkpoints